Skills shortages growing: Placements spike on pre-Covid levels despite fall in new jobs
While vacancies in the UK may be declining, the latest data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) suggest this is more likely driven by skills shortages than a reduced demand.
The data - provided by the global leader in software for the staffing industry, Bullhorn – revealed that while new vacancies are dropping – with permanent roles down 43% last month on pre-Covid levels recorded in November 2019 – placements are growing.
Since November 2019, the number of people placed in a new job has increased 7%. Compared to 2018, placements are up 11%, with figures increasing 41% since November 2017. According to APSCo, this suggests that the decline in vacancies is demonstrative of firms taking longer to fill roles and reigning in new jobs as a result.
Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo commented: “We’ve known for some time that the UK’s skills shortages were having a growing impact on recruitment and this latest data really does re-enforce this. There may be a slow-down in new jobs at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that the staffing market is grinding to a halt. In fact, what we are seeing at the moment is a delay in new roles being added while outstanding placements are filled, hence the uptick in permanent placements alongside new vacancy declines.
“It’s unlikely that we’ll see a solution to these skills shortages any time soon, so recruitment firms can head into the New Year reassured that demand for the services is still going to remain buoyant.”
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